ELK COUNTY, Pa — Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced the arrests of 13 individuals on Thursday who were part of a major drug trafficking ring in Elk and Erie counties.
Authorities say the individuals were trafficking heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine.
“While we lose 14 Pennsylvanians a day to drug overdoses, these individuals peddled poisons into our communities with total disregard for the consequences,” said Attorney General Shapiro. “We’re committed to shutting down these dangerous, illegal trafficking operations, keeping Pennsylvania neighborhoods safe, and saving lives.”
Authorities say the investigation into the drug ring began in 2019 when narcotics agents identified four individuals who were trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine, as well as heroin/fentanyl, throughout Elk and Erie counties, according to a press release.
Those four individuals were identified as:
- Thomas Wallace, 37, Erie, Pa.
- Margaret Wisor, 42, Johnsonburg, Pa.
- Joshua Pulliam, 36, SCI Albion
- Joshua Coles, 27, Erie, Pa.
Authorities say further investigation led to identifying nine other individuals involved in the drug trafficking network.
- Dustin Black, 33, Armstrong County Jail, Pa.
- Ashley Bowley, 27, Ridgway, Pa.
- Adam Curci, 33, St. Marys, Pa.
- Rikki Curcio, 29, Bradford, Pa.
- Andrew Hoover, 36, Erie County Corrections Center, Pa.
- Joseph Krise, 50, Kersey, Pa.
- James McDonald, 48, Elk County Prison, Pa.
- Cayla Royer, 38, Weedville, Pa.
- Michael VanDyne, 36, Elk County Prison
Authorities say in October of 2020, agents seized over eight pounds of methamphetamine from the drug ring.
Investigators say all 13 individuals have since been charged with criminal conspiracy and drug-related offenses.
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